religion (n.)
c. 1200, "state of
life bound by monastic vows," also "conduct indicating a belief in a
divine power," from Anglo-French religiun (11c.), Old French religion
"piety, devotion; religious community," and directly from Latin
religionem (nominative religio) "respect for what is sacred, reverence for
the gods; conscientiousness, sense of right, moral obligation; fear of the
gods; divine service, religious observance; a religion, a faith, a mode of
worship, cult; sanctity, holiness," in Late Latin "monastic
life" (5c.).
According to Cicero
derived from relegere "go through again" (in reading or in thought),
from re- "again" (see re-) + legere "read" (see lecture
(n.)). However, popular etymology among the later ancients (Servius,
Lactantius, Augustine) and the interpretation of many modern writers connects
it with religare "to bind fast" (see rely), via notion of "place
an obligation on," or "bond between humans and gods." In that
case, the re- would be intensive. Another possible origin is religiens
"careful," opposite of negligens. In English, meaning "particular
system of faith" is recorded from c. 1300; sense of "recognition of
and allegiance in manner of life (perceived as justly due) to a higher, unseen
power or powers" is from 1530s.
To hold, therefore,
that there is no difference in matters of religion between forms that are unlike
each other, and even contrary to each other, most clearly leads in the end to
the rejection of all religion in both theory and practice. And this is the same
thing as atheism, however it may differ from it in name. [Pope Leo XIII,
Immortale Dei, 1885]
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